Félix Auger-Aliassime, eighth seed, defeated Ben Shelton, fifth favorite, 4-6, 7-6(7) and 7-5 in the group stage of the Nitto ATP Finals, this Wednesday (12), at the Pala Alpitour, in Turin, Italy. The 25-year-old Canadian converted two of seven break points and saved critical situations in the second set tiebreak to turn the score around. The match, which lasted two hours and 26 minutes, marks Auger-Aliassime’s first victory in the tournament after an initial defeat to Jannik Sinner. Shelton, 23, took a lead in the first set but couldn’t keep pace under pressure.
The confrontation took place in the Bjorn Borg group, where both were looking for points to qualify for the semi-finals. Auger-Aliassime now has 50 wins this season, reinforcing his campaign on indoor hard courts. The victory balances the chances of the Canadian, who faces Alexander Zverev in the final round.
Serving performance defines turnaround
Auger-Aliassime hit seven aces and held 79% of first serve points, surpassing Shelton’s 68%. On the second serve, the Canadian won 63% of the exchanges, compared to 50% for the American. These numbers helped neutralize the 93 aces attempted by Shelton throughout the year on fast floors.
Efficiency on serve allowed Auger-Aliassime to control long rallies, especially in the third set. Shelton committed eight double faults, which openediu gaps for the opponent.
History between players
The two met for the second time, with Auger-Aliassime maintaining a positive 2-0 record. The first duel was on clay at Roland Garros 2024, where the Canadian won 6-4, 6-2, 6-1. In Turin, the indoor floor favored the aggressive style of both, but Auger-Aliassime’s quick adaptation prevailed.
Shelton arrived at the tournament with 40 wins this season, including the title in Montreal. His recent form, however, has shown inconsistencies following a shoulder injury at the US Open.
Auger-Aliassime, in turn, won three trophies in 2025: Adelaide, Montpellier and Brussels. He reached the semifinals at the US Open and runner-up in Dubai and Paris Masters, consolidating eighth place in the rankings.
Decisive moments of the tiebreak
The second set reached a tiebreak after Shelton saved breaks. Auger-Aliassime took a 3-0 lead with precise forehand winners. Shelton tied the score at 6-6 with powerful aces, but missed on the next point.
- Auger-Aliassime saved three match points at 6-6, with aggressive returns.
- Shelton hit an ace on the T to force the seventh point, but netted a forehand on the eighth.
- The Canadian closed with a winning volley after 12 exchanged points.
This sequence lasted nine minutes and changed the momentum of the match.
Strategies inindoor court
Shelton bet on quick services, above 200 km/h, to dominate the first set. He won 77% of the points on the initial first serve, forcing errors from Auger-Aliassime. The American, however, gave in on the return, converting just two of three breaks.
Auger-Aliassime adjusted his positioning at the back of the court, exploiting Shelton’s backhand with slices. This generated 94 points in the return, against 82 from the rival. The Canadian also used dropshots to vary the pace, winning 18 games in total.
Pala Alpitour’s fast court increased the importance of the serve, with a low margin for unforced errors. Auger-Aliassime committed less than Shelton in the final sets.
Numbers that explain efficiency
Overall, Auger-Aliassime scored 103 total points to Shelton’s 94. He won 15 service games, matching his opponent, but shone in 17 total games. The conversion of breaks in the third set, in 2/3 chances, sealed the result.
- Points on first serve: Auger-Aliassime 80%, Shelton 68%.
- Winners: Canadian 32, American 29.
- Unforced errors: 18 for both, but critically distributed.
These data highlight Auger-Aliassime’s defensive solidity at key moments. Shelton, despite 3 consecutive victories in opening games, lost 8 points in a row in the third set.
Auger-Aliassime season in focus
The Canadian raised his level after a calf injury against Sinner, in his debut in Turin. He saved seven breaks in that match, showing resilience. Now, with 16 indoor victories this season, he is aiming for the top 5 in the final ranking.
Shelton needs to beat Sinner in the last round to dream of the semifinals. His 2025 campaign includes quarterfinals at Wimbledon and semifinals at the Australian Open, but post-US Open has revealed fatigue.
The ATP Finals continues with duels in the Lleyton Hewitt group between Alcaraz and De Miñaur. Auger-Aliassime celebrated the victory with clenched fists, signaling confidence for the remainder of the event.
